British spy op wrecked peace move

The Observer ^ | Martin Bright, Peter Beaumont and Jo Tuckman

[janeta]

A joint British and American spying operation at the United Nations scuppered a last-ditch initiative to avert the invasion of Iraq, The Observer can reveal.

Senior UN diplomats from Mexico and Chile provided new evidence last week that their missions were spied on, in direct contravention of international law.

The former Mexican ambassador to the UN, Adolfo Aguilar Zinser, told The Observer that US officials intervened last March, just days before the war against Saddam was launched, to halt secret negotiations for a compromise resolution to give weapons inspectors more time to complete their work.

Aguilar Zinser claimed that the intervention could only have come as a result of surveillance of a closed diplomatic meeting where the compromise was being hammered out. He said it was clear the Americans knew about the confidential discussions in advance. 'When they [the US] found out, they said, "You should know that we don't like the idea and we don't like you to promote it."'

The revelations follow claims by Chile's former ambassador to the UN, Juan Valdes, that he found hard evidence of bugging at his mission in New York last March. The new claims emerged as The Observer has discovered that Government officials seriously considered dropping the prosecution against Katharine Gun, the translator at the GCHQ surveillance centre who first disclosed details of the espionage operation last March.

According to Whitehall sources, officials feared the prosecution would leave the Government and the intelligence services open to embarrassing disclosures. They were known to be concerned that the 29-year-old Chinese language specialist would be seen as a patriotic young woman acting out of principle to reveal an illegal operation rather than as someone who betrayed her country's secrets. They are also known to be worried that any trial would force the disclosure of Government legal advice on intervention in Iraq, described by one source as 'at best ambiguous'.

Gun has attracted high profile support, particularly in the US, where her case has been taken up by Hollywood stars, civil rights campaigners and members of Congress. Yesterday, Oscar nominee, Sean Penn, told The Observer that Gun was 'a hero of the human spirit'.

Aguilar Zinser also paid tribute: 'She is serving a noble cause by denouncing what could be illegal acts,' he said.

The operation by the US National Security Agency and GCHQ was revealed by The Observer last March, after a leaked memo showed US spies had begun an intelligence 'surge' on members of the UN security council in which they needed British help.

Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesman Menzies Campbell last night called on Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to clarify Britain's role: 'If the allegations that these operations had ministerial authority are well-founded, then it could hardly be more serious for the Government. There will be understandable uproar at the UN. On the other hand, if the eavesdropping took place without Ministers knowing, then the question is, who was in charge?'

The Mexican government confirmed last week that diplomatic letters were sent to Straw last December asking him to clarify whether GCHQ was involved in spying on its UN allies. They have yet to receive a response. The Foreign Office refused to comment on the new allegations.

But the revelations of the former Mexican ambassador will not go away as he is planning a book about his experiences at the United Nations.

Aguilar Zinser told The Observer that the meeting of diplomats from six nations took place about a week before the decision not to put the resolution to the vote. They were working on a draft document of a compromise solution when the American intervened.

'We had yet to get our capitals to go along with it, it was at a very early stage. Only the people in the room knew what the document said. The surprising thing was the very rapid flow of information to [US] quarters.

'The meeting was in the evening and they call us in the morning before the meeting of the Security Council and they say, 'We appreciate you trying to find ideas, but this is not a good idea." I say, "Thanks, that's good to know." We were looking for a compromise and they [the US] say, "Do not attempt it."'

[janeta]

Will there be a trial? I wonder why they do not write about that. Never heard of any trials because of spying. Which international law are they talking about?

[mewzilla]

The one the ink's not dry on yet. I'd be ticked if we hadn't been spying on them. That said, I'm not sure we've got the nads. Not to mention the fact that the sources for this are Mexico and Chile. Come on.

[COEXERJ145]

Jeez, spying at the U.N... Like that hasn't been going on on every side for the last 50 years.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Your link is to the Guardian not the Observer.

[janeta]

I guess they have a website together. It says Observer if you open the link.

[AF68]

The UN is host to the largest collection of spies in the world. I'm totally shocked to learn that there was spying going on!

[Psycho_Bunny]

Heheheheheheheheheheh.

Even if this is true, just what the hell were Mexico and Chile going to stop?

lolololololol.

Talk about the mouse roaring.

[expatpat]

Of course we were spying on them. As you say, we better had been, or Tenet should go.

[evad]

Which international law are they talking about?

heh heh..like W said, "I dunno what international law you're talking about?"
"You'll have to talk to my lawyer about that."

[Ricebug]

If they don't like it,leave. Bye!

[prion]

I'm outraged! I think the UN should punish the US by moving its headquarters to Europe right away!

Or maybe Chile.

Or Mexico.

[kcar]

It's so tempting when the UN building's right here on U.S. soil. Maybe they should just move away?

[Martin Wellbourne]

The Guardian publishes Monday thru Saturday and The Observer on Sunday. Both are owned by Guardian Media Group.

[spunkets]

" 29-year-old Chinese language specialist"

What the heck does she have to do with spying on hispanics? "to halt secret negotiations for a compromise resolution to give weapons inspectors more time to complete their work. ...We were looking for a compromise and they [the US] say, "Do not attempt it."

Hey, times up! That's what was said, not "do not attempt it." The peace at all cost niks failed. Now they're whining.

This has nothing to do with spying. The whole article is mumbled confusion intended to mesmerize idiots into hating the US.

[EGPWS]

Gun has attracted high profile support, particularly in the US, where her case has been taken up by Hollywood stars, civil rights campaigners and members of Congress. Yesterday, Oscar nominee, Sean Penn, told The Observer that Gun was 'a hero of the human spirit'.

Well, you can throw HER credibility out the window.

[mewzilla]

Well, someone over there also sent Joe Wilson to Niger.

[elfman2]

"US officials intervened last March, just days before the war against Saddam was launched, to halt secret negotiations for a compromise resolution to give weapons inspectors more time to complete their work."

That kind of crap’s exactly what we didn’t want. We should have sabotaged it!

It’s too easy to ask for a few more days, give us next to nothing, and then ask for a few more next time. And too hard to stop and then restart a war at the last minute.

[lambo]

"The revelations follow claims by Chile's former ambassador to the UN, Juan Valdes . . ."

Glad to hear he's finally found honest work.

[OldFriend]

Of course, France and Germany were just about to go along with our invasion of Iraq. Putin too.........NOT!!!!!

[AmericanVictory]

If we don't spy on enemies like Mexico, who do we spy on?

[Jeff Chandler]

scuppered a last-ditch initiative

Shiver me timbers!

[Yehuda]

"I'm outraged! I think the UN should punish the US by moving its headquarters to Europe right away!"

Oh no, they should move to DAMASCUS, where they will be more comfortable.

[Yehuda]

" Glad to hear he's finally found honest work."

[beckett]

Yawn. Reading between the lines of this report it's so easy to see silly gamesmanship in puffed-up language, the vocational expertise of diplomats.

[maestro]

A joint British and American spying operation at the United Nations scuppered a last-ditch initiative to avert the invasion of Iraq, The Observer can reveal. Senior UN diplomats from Mexico and Chile provided new evidence last week that their missions were spied on, in direct contravention of international law.

This 'stuff' does NOT really go on in the real world of 'Wall Street'......or any 'other' stock/banking/exchange in the whole wide 'fat' world?

If NOT,....then exactly,...just what 'is' the U.N. for?

(The U.N. world, together, beating 'your' plowshears into 'Money-Bombs'....?)

"Just,....'Say No'."

/sarcasm

[leadpenny]

Janeta, you just got here. Did you lie on your application?

[Imal]

A controversy of this magnitude could bring down the U.N.

At least, I hope it could.

[Admin Moderator]

Janeta had to leave .....

[leadpenny]

Janeta, we hardly knew ya! :(

[Stultis]

Which international law are they talking about?

Apparently one which says (in effect) "The United States and her allies may not intefere with dictators stomping their blood-splattered jackboots into the faces of their people forever."

[GeronL]

Maybe Mexico and South America will invade the US???

Nah, never make it over the border /sarcasm

[weegee]

ZOT PING!

[weegee]

Seems that there are "enemy agents" here on FR. (S)he should be glad that there isn't a law against that fraud.

[archy]

" 29-year-old Chinese language specialist"

What the heck does she have to do with spying on hispanics?

Um, you noticed who Vincente Fox has been palling around with lately. Besides Bush, I mean:

12 December 2003

26 October 2002

[endthematrix]

"That kind of crap’s exactly what we didn’t want. We should have sabotaged it!"

Elitists in the US wish to surrender our sovereignty to be subjugated by a UN bureaucracy. Global governance, finance, courts, military, surveillance, health care. If the UN is not in the best interests of the nation we should pull out. Trouble is the US delegation at the founding of UN Charter was full of Communist spies. But today we demonize McCarthy for speaking the truth. Today, he tear most of Hollyweird a new one.

[endthematrix]

I think China-Mexico connection is about who can lower wages to achieve Most Favored Slave Nation (MFSN) status. That giant sucking sound migrated to Asia. Mexico is losing large foreign (US) investment.

[jriemer]

See Viking KittiePAC Puts a Bounty on Trolls at FR for an important update on Troll Bounties!

[Darksheare]

Trollicus Dimwitticus
Distribution area: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Siberia, Pacific Northwest, PETA, ACT UP, Rainbow, Trolls for Dean/Wes Clark/Kerry, various psuedo-intellectual internet cafes, France, Germany, Moby Concerts, various colleges, and various other climates conducive to troll breeding. Stupid, primitive, distrustful, and unbelievably ugly creatures. They have noses like cucumbers, and a tail. They are horribly strong and fast, and they stink. They often keep boxes full of stolen money and jewels, with which they play for hours, running their fingers through them.
Size: over 1 meter tall.
Hair: black and filthy.

[Grampa Dave]

janeta, this Moby Troll alert is just for you! Did you enjoy your time and your own personal zot?

[dennisw]

That said, I'm not sure we've got the nads. 

My thoughts too. We cave into Mexico all the time on illegal immigration so this sounds unlikely. Anyways they should blame themselves for not sweeping the room for bugs instead of blaming the gringo.

Not to mention the fact that the sources for this are Mexico and Chile. Come on.

[MEG33]

Janeta RIP..Zzzzzzzzzot

[MEG33]

You've been peeking at my mail!LOL

[Lady Jag]

[Darksheare]

LOL!

[MeekOneGOP]

Viking Kittens - Led Zeppelin - Immigrant Song

She's dead, Jim.

[Soaring Feather]

Do you really think he's dead Jim??

[MEG33]

It won't be long til some of us will receive freepmail from janeta,with another name probably based on the name jane,Sigh.
Thanks for playing our song!

[MeekOneGOP]

haha ! Take her away, Aliens ! We're done with her now ! ...